The entertainment industry is known to be a family affair from acting dynasties to sporting families.
Now Freddie Flintoff’s son has become the most recent sports-person to mirror a relative’s talents.
Rocky Flintoff hit his maiden century for Lancashire’s second XI against Warwickshire at Edgbaston.
2nd XI Update: Rocky Flintoff has reached his first second XI century at Edgbaston! 💯👏
Here are some of his best boundaries from another great knock:
Scorecard 📋: https://t.co/8ZnCHdJitc
🌹 #RedRoseTogether pic.twitter.com/75LqwrCtNT
— Lancashire Cricket (@lancscricket) April 23, 2024
The 16-year-old made his second team debut earlier this month, and scored an unbeaten 50 against Durham at Emirates Old Trafford last week.
With a new sporting dynasty potentially being born, we reflected on Britain’s most successful sporting families throughout the years.
Graham and Damon Hill (Motorsport)
With three world titles between the father and son, Graham and Damon Hill are cemented as legends in motorsport.
Graham Hill won the 1962 and 1968 Formula 1 World Championship, racing alongside motorsport’s finest including Jim Clark, Jackie Stewart and Mario Andretti.
He is also the only driver to claim the Triple Crown of Motorsport, winning the Indy 500, 24 hours of Le Mans and Monaco Grand Prix.
Damon achieved his one and only world title in 1996, however his father never saw him compete in F1, dying in a plane crash in 1975.
Lauren and Reece James (Football)
Lioness and Chelsea forward Lauren James, is an imperious force in the Women’s Super League and on the international stage.
Her brother Reece James captains Chelsea’s men’s side and they are the first brother and sister to be senior England internationals in the modern era.
Discussing their upbringing for England Football, Lauren James emphasised the importance of her relationship with her brother.
“Growing up, every day we would be playing in the park at the back of our house. We had a massive field and loads of our friends would join in, pretty much every day,” Lauren said.
“Even when he went to training, I would be on the side of the pitch, kicking a ball about or I would join in with the other siblings there.
“It was great growing up, being able to play with the boys all the time and kicking a ball about whenever I could.”
Libby, Stephen and James Clegg (Paralympics)
If having one Paralympic medallist wasn’t enough for one family, the Clegg family are lucky enough to have three.
The Clegg’s have achieved Paralympic medals across a diverse range of sports, with Libby the most successful of the siblings.
Libby won two Paralympic gold medals in Rio during the 2016 Games in the 100m and 200m T11.
In 2022, she made the switch to professional cycling but has since retired from sport.
Clegg will support her brother and Paralympic swimmer Stephen Clegg at the summer games, who will be looking to add gold to his medal tally.
David and Jonny Bairstow (Cricket)
David and Jonny Bairstow have both played cricket for Yorkshire and England, but David never witnessed his son’s cricket career, taking his own life in 1998.
After celebrating his 100th cap earlier this year, Bairstow reflected on his father and the impact on his professional career.
“It was always going to be tricky playing professional cricket with him playing for Yorkshire for 20-odd years previously. There were always going to be comparisons, and it did add to the challenge,” he said according to the Telegraph.
“People said I’d never be as good as my dad, that I’d never do this or that.”
“It’s a massive compliment, but I always wanted to do it my own way too. Dad played nearly 1,000 games for Yorkshire, had more than 1,500 dismissals as a wicketkeeper. They are ridiculous numbers.”
“I hope he’s sitting up there, having a beer, looking down proudly.”
Bobby and Jack Charlton (Football)
Integral to England’s 1966 World Cup victory, Bobby and Jack Charlton are Britain’s most legendary sporting siblings.
Sir Bobby Charlton is one of the most well known names in the history of football and Manchester United.
He is the only English player to win all of football’s major honours including the FA Cup, Football League and European Cup with Manchester United, and the World Cup with England.
His brother Jack was also part of the winning ‘66 squad and managed the Republic of Ireland from 1986 to 1996.
